Guidelines for submission
Purpose and audience
The Scottish Languages Review is intended as an opportunity to connect educational practice, policy and research. We compile each issue with a diverse range of contributors and readers in mind. We intend that our content and readership is national and international. Articles will enable a diverse range of informed voices in education to co-exist in each publication, in order to encourage scholarship and debate.
Invitation to contribute
We invite contributors to share practice, research and insights. All articles submitted should demonstrate criticality, going beyond descriptive accounts.
All submissions should be accompanied by an abstract of no more than 250 words. The following four types of contribution are welcome, and some flexibility will be built in around these:
Research working papers: These might be in the form of summaries of empirical research, case studies, action research or research vignettes. These will normally be about 2000-2500 words in length. Please limit the number of references to those which are absolutely necessary to the understanding of the article, and please use the most recent references possible. Research papers should include a consideration of the implications for practice and/or policy at an appropriate scale. As well as the abstract, please include up to five key words.
Practice insight working papers: These will be focused on relevant teaching and learning practices. They should communicate the particular features, contexts and decision making that shape these practices. These will normally be 1200-1800 words in length and should reference policies or research that influence the practice.
Thought pieces: These offer opportunities for writers to share opinions, reflections or critiques of teaching and learning practice, research and/or policy. These will normally be 750-1250 words in length. These may include responses to previously published articles.
Book or conference reviews: These focus on books or events which relate to practice, policy or research around languages education. These can include personal reflections by the author. These will normally be 750-1250 words in length.
Writing style and guidance
The Scottish Languages Review is an inclusive platform for a range of voices. Our guidelines for authors are as follows:
- Submissions should be sent electronically in Word format, double-spaced and in Times New Roman font.
- The names of all authors should be clearly stated and, where appropriate, roles and affiliations should be stated.
- Each contribution should state a corresponding author and include an email address, and / or Twitter handle.
- Contributions will normally be written in English and should be accessible and clear to a range of readers. Text can be broken up with subheadings, bullet points, diagrams and other visuals.
- Referencing should follow the Harvard style.
- Accepted contributions might be lightly edited for clarity and style.
- Contributors should be mindful of aspects related to confidentiality, and consider whether it is necessary to include identifying information on places or people.
- Essential images should be embedded in the word document, and discretionary images should be sent as attachments.
- No submitted photographs of children will be published. SCILT may, however, select appropriate images from stock photograph libraries.
- We will not publish contributions which are commercial in nature. We are happy, however, to consider contributions which engage critically and professionally with resources, programmes, courses or consultancy, and weblinks can be included.
Submissions for consideration for publication in the Scottish Languages Review should be sent by email to SCILT, with Scottish Languages Review in the subject line.
Submission and review
Each submission will be considered by a panel of reviewers. Decisions on inclusion for publication will be made in a timely fashion and any guidance for resubmission will be communicated to the author(s). Once an issue is collated, authors will be asked to undertake final proof-reading prior to publication.
Deadlines: We aim to publish 1-2 issues per year so we are happy to accept contributions at any time. If you would like your paper to be considered for the next edition, please contact SCILT by email, putting Scottish Languages Review in the subject line. Alternatively, if you would like to discuss the possibility of writing an article, or if you are at the early stages of developing an idea for a submission, please complete the expression of interest form, and a member of our editorial team will be in touch to discuss.